Contents

History

Narsil was a symbol of the kingship of Arnor and Gondor, but was broken at the end of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men at the end of the Second Age. Aragorn, as the Chieftain of the Rangers of the North, and therefore the descendant of the Kings of Arnor and Gondor, carried the fragments of the ancient sword. After three thousand years, Narsil was finally reforged as Andúril when Aragorn set out to reclaim his kingdom.

Aragorn carried the sword during his journey south as part of the Fellowship of the Ring, and it featured prominently at several points in the story, where it was sometimes referred to as the Sword That Was Broken or the Sword Reforged. Aragorn often used the sword to help establish his credentials as the heir to the throne of Gondor. This was especially true when he convinced the Dead Men of Dunharrow to fulfill their oath to support Gondor in its time of need.

Etymology

Andúril means "Flame of the West" in Quenya,[3] composed of andúnë, "west" and ril, "brilliance"). "West" here refers to Númenor.

Because of Aragorn's warrior-persona in this video game, Andúril merely serves as a melee weapon upgrade after Rivendell.[4] Aragorn does not use the broken sword at any point prior. In the game's credits, artist Jason Rosenstock is explicitly mentioned as the designer of Andúril.[5]

In The Two Towers, when asked by Háma to disarm outside Meduseld, Aragorn is very reluctant, saying that normally he would give up his weapon, "if I bore now any sword but Andúril".[6] This scene and dialogue is omitted from the film on the grace that the sword Aragorn surrenders there was not Andúril.

Andúril is not forged from the shards of Narsil until late in the third film. Elrond had the sword reforged only after Arwen's pleading. He then took the sword to Aragorn in the camp of the Rohirrim at Dunharrow. Aragorn's acceptance of the sword, along with his decision at that time to take the Paths of the Dead, showed his willingness to accept his destiny of becoming king.

The reforging of Narsil is experienced by the player in the quest arc called "The Blade that was Broken". The player sets out to find the last of the Silithair, shining adamants crafted by Elves of the house of Fëanor in days of old, in order for the Elf-smiths of Imladris to reforge the sword into Andúril.[8]